23 Fun Summer Crafts for Kids (Easy & Cool)
Last Updated on 04/02/2025 by Nell Marie
Keeping kids entertained during the summer can be a challenging task, as the long, unstructured days often lead to bouts of boredom and restlessness.
With the school year providing a consistent routine, the sudden freedom of summer can leave parents scrambling for activities to keep their children engaged and happy.
Fortunately, there are numerous options to combat this boredom, ranging from outdoor adventures to creative indoor projects.
Crafts, in particular, offer a fantastic way to stimulate a child’s imagination and motor skills while providing hours of entertainment.
From painting rocks and making bird feeders to creating intricate friendship bracelets and colorful tie-dye shirts, crafting allows kids to explore their artistic side and develop a sense of accomplishment.
By integrating a variety of activities, including crafts, parents can ensure their children have a summer filled with fun, creativity, and learning.
In this article, you’ll find 25 crafts to keep kids entertained and busy this summer and a super fun virtual camp that can help with keeping kids learning and excited about the summer.
Related reading: Toddler Activities, Indoor Activities for Toddlers
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1. Nature Collage
Creating a nature collage is a wonderful way to combine creativity with outdoor exploration, making it an ideal summer activity for kids.
Begin by embarking on a nature walk, encouraging children to collect an array of natural materials such as leaves, flowers, small sticks, and even feathers.
Once they have gathered their treasures, provide them with a piece of cardboard or heavy paper as the base for their collage.
Using glue, they can arrange and attach their findings to create unique, textured artwork that captures the beauty of the outdoors.
This activity not only fosters a deeper appreciation for nature but also enhances fine motor skills and artistic expression.
Each collage becomes a personal masterpiece, reflecting the child’s adventure and the natural wonders they’ve discovered.
Click here to visit the website above and grab your free printable.
2. Painted Rocks
Painted rocks offer a delightful and versatile summer craft that merges creativity with the simplicity of natural materials.
Begin by gathering smooth, flat rocks, which can often be found in gardens, parks, or along riverbanks.
Once cleaned, these rocks become blank canvases for vibrant designs and imaginative patterns.
Armed with acrylic paints and brushes, children can transform these stones into colorful artworks, ranging from whimsical creatures and intricate mandalas to abstract designs and inspirational messages.
This activity not only encourages artistic expression and fine motor skills but also provides a lasting keepsake or thoughtful gift.
Painted rocks can be used to decorate gardens, line pathways, or even be hidden in community spaces for others to find and enjoy, fostering a sense of connection and joy.
Click here to see lots of painted rock ideas for kids.
3. DIY Bird Feeder
DIY bird feeders made from pinecones, peanut butter, and birdseed are a fantastic, hands-on project that connects kids with nature while providing a rewarding craft experience.
To start, gather some open pinecones, ensuring they are free of dirt and debris.
Next, spread a generous amount of peanut butter over the pinecone scales, making sure to cover as much surface area as possible.
Once the pinecone is coated, roll it in birdseed until it is thoroughly covered. The peanut butter acts as a sticky base that holds the birdseed in place.
Finally, tie a piece of string or yarn around the top of the pinecone to create a hanger, and find a suitable spot outside, such as a tree branch or a hook.
This simple yet effective bird feeder will attract a variety of birds, allowing children to observe and learn about local wildlife.
This eco-friendly craft encourages a sense of responsibility towards nature and can spark an ongoing interest in birdwatching and conservation.
Click here to view all the bird feeder ideas!
4. T-shirt Tie-Dye Craft
T-shirt tie-dyeing is a classic and vibrant summer activity that sparks creativity and individuality among children.
Beginning with plain white T-shirts as their canvas, kids can explore a world of color and pattern possibilities using tie-dye kits readily available at craft stores or online.
With rubber bands and plastic gloves in hand, they can fold, twist, and bind sections of the shirts before applying vibrant dye in a kaleidoscope of hues.
The magic happens as the dyes interact and blend, creating unique and eye-catching designs that are as expressive as the children who make them.
This hands-on process not only fosters artistic expression and experimentation but also teaches patience and fine motor skills as they carefully manipulate the fabric.
Once dried and rinsed, these personalized masterpieces become cherished wardrobe staples, serving as a tangible reminder of a fun-filled summer day spent creating wearable art.
Click here to view the tutorial.
5. Salt Dough Ornaments
Salt dough ornaments are a delightful and versatile summer craft that allows children to unleash their imagination while creating lasting keepsakes.
Crafting the dough requires just a few simple ingredients commonly found in most kitchens: salt, flour, and water.
Once mixed and kneaded into a smooth consistency, the dough can be shaped into a variety of fun forms such as stars, hearts, animals, or seasonal symbols like snowflakes or flowers.
After baking and cooling, the hardened ornaments become a blank canvas for children to decorate with acrylic paints, markers, or glitter, adding their own unique flair and personality.
This hands-on activity not only enhances fine motor skills and creativity but also provides an opportunity for children to explore their artistic expression and proudly showcase their creations as holiday decorations or thoughtful gifts for family and friends.
Click here to view the tutorial above.
6. Paper Plate Mask
Paper plate masks are a fantastic summer craft that ignites children’s imagination and encourages role-playing and creative expression.
With just a few simple materials like paper plates, markers, glue, and craft supplies like feathers, sequins, or yarn, kids can transform ordinary paper plates into extraordinary masks.
Whether they choose to design animal masks to roam the jungles as lions or elephants or superhero masks to soar through the skies as their favorite caped crusader, the possibilities are endless.
This hands-on activity not only enhances fine motor skills as children cut, color, and glue, but also fosters imaginative play as they embody different characters and explore new worlds.
Once completed, these masks become cherished props for imaginative adventures, sparking endless hours of creative play and storytelling during the long summer days.
Click here to view the tutorial and grab the printable.
7. Watercolor Resist Art
Watercolor resist art is a captivating and magical summer activity that combines drawing, painting, and chemistry to produce stunning results.
Using watercolor paper and white crayons or oil pastels, children can create intricate designs, doodles, or messages, pressing firmly to ensure the wax resists the water-based paint.
Once their designs are complete, they can unleash their creativity by applying vibrant watercolor paints over the entire paper, covering the crayon markings.
As the watercolor paint washes over the paper, the waxed areas resist the paint, creating a mesmerizing effect where the designs magically appear, revealed by the colorful washes.
This process not only encourages experimentation with color blending and composition but also teaches children about the concept of resistance and the chemical properties of wax and water.
The joy of watching their hidden designs emerge from the painted surface adds an element of surprise and wonder to this engaging art technique, making it a favorite summer pastime for young artists.
Click here to view the project above.
8. DIY Kaleidoscope
Creating a DIY kaleidoscope is a fascinating and educational summer project that combines science with artistry, captivating children’s imagination with mesmerizing visual effects.
Using simple materials such as cardboard tubes, reflective paper, transparent plastic, and colorful beads, kids can construct their own kaleidoscope.
By cutting the cardboard tube to size and lining it with reflective paper, they create the mirrored chamber essential for the kaleidoscope’s magical reflections.
Adding a transparent plastic window at one end allows light to enter, while the inclusion of colorful beads or sequins creates dynamic patterns.
As they peer through the viewing end and rotate the kaleidoscope, children are enthralled by the ever-changing symmetrical designs produced by the reflections within.
This hands-on activity not only promotes creativity and fine motor skills but also fosters an understanding of light, symmetry, and optics, making it an enriching and captivating summer craft for curious minds.
Click here to view the tutorial above.
9. Nature Weaving for Kids
Nature weaving offers a delightful blend of creativity and outdoor exploration, inviting children to connect with the natural world while engaging in a hands-on craft.
To begin, kids can venture outdoors to collect a variety of materials such as sturdy sticks, long blades of grass, colorful leaves, delicate flowers, and any other interesting finds they encounter.
Using the sticks, they can fashion a simple loom by arranging them into a rectangular or circular frame, securing them together with twine or string.
Once their loom is constructed, children can let their imagination soar as they weave in the natural materials they’ve gathered, creating intricate patterns, textures, and designs.
The process of weaving encourages fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and concentration, as they carefully manipulate the grasses, leaves, and flowers to achieve their desired effects.
As they work, children are not only creating beautiful works of art but also developing a deeper appreciation for the beauty and diversity of the natural world around them.
The finished nature weavings serve as unique and meaningful expressions of their outdoor adventures, capturing a moment in time and celebrating the wonders of nature.
Click to learn more about this sweet craft.
10. Homemade Playdough
Homemade playdough is a timeless and versatile summer craft that provides endless hours of sensory exploration and creative fun for children of all ages.
With just a few pantry staples like flour, salt, water, and food coloring, kids can whip up batches of colorful and pliable dough right in their own kitchen.
The process of mixing, kneading, and shaping the dough not only enhances fine motor skills but also stimulates the senses as children explore its texture, scent, and vibrant hues.
Whether they’re sculpting miniature masterpieces, practicing letter formation, or simply enjoying the tactile experience, homemade playdough offers a world of possibilities for imaginative play and learning.
Plus, the satisfaction of creating something from scratch adds an extra layer of enjoyment to this classic summer activity, making it a perennial favorite among young creators and their families.
Click to grab the DIY playdough recipe!
11. Foam Stamps
Foam stamps are an engaging and creative summer craft that transforms simple materials into tools for artistic expression.
To start, gather colorful foam sheets, which are easy to cut and manipulate, and an assortment of bottle caps, which serve as the sturdy bases for the stamps.
Children can draw and cut out various shapes from the foam sheets, such as stars, hearts, animals, or abstract designs.
Once the shapes are cut, they can be glued onto the flat side of bottle caps using strong adhesive, creating unique and reusable stamps.
This craft encourages children to explore patterns and textures as they dip their custom-made stamps into ink pads or paint and press them onto paper, fabric, or other surfaces.
The stamping process enhances fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination, while the endless design possibilities inspire creativity and imagination.
Foam stamps can be used to decorate greeting cards, wrapping paper, or even t-shirts, making them a versatile and enjoyable project that adds a personal touch to various items.
This hands-on activity not only provides hours of fun but also results in handmade tools that children can continue to use in their artistic endeavors.
Click here to see the tutorial.
12. Paper Mâché Bowls
Creating paper mâché bowls is a delightful and immersive summer craft that allows children to explore the art of sculpting and decorating while engaging in a fun, messy activity.
To begin, gather balloons, newspapers, flour, water, and paint. Inflate the balloons to the desired size of the bowls and prepare the paper mâché paste by mixing flour and water until it reaches a smooth, glue-like consistency.
Tear the newspapers into strips, dip them into the paste, and layer them over the balloon, covering it completely while leaving the top open to form the bowl’s shape.
It’s important to apply several layers to ensure the bowl is sturdy once dry.
After the paper mâché has dried completely, which can take a day or two, the balloon can be popped and removed, leaving behind a solid paper mâché bowl.
The creative fun continues as children paint and decorate their bowls with acrylic paints, markers, or additional embellishments like glitter, sequins, or tissue paper.
This activity not only hones their fine motor skills and artistic abilities but also teaches patience and the value of layering and structure in crafting.
Each paper mâché bowl becomes a unique masterpiece, reflecting the child’s creativity and effort.
These decorative bowls can be used to hold trinkets, serve as vibrant room decor, or be given as thoughtful, handmade gifts.
The process of making paper mâché bowls is a rewarding experience that combines creativity, learning, and the joy of creating something beautiful from simple materials.
Click here to review the recipes.
13. Tin Can Lanterns
Creating tin can lanterns is an enchanting summer craft that combines recycling with creativity, resulting in beautiful, functional decor for evening gatherings.
Start by collecting and thoroughly cleaning empty tin cans, ensuring there are no sharp edges.
Once dry, fill each can with water and freeze them—this step prevents the can from denting while punching holes.
Using a hammer and nail, carefully punch holes into the can in desired patterns, such as stars, hearts, or abstract designs.
After the ice melts and the cans are dried, the punched holes will form intricate designs that allow light to shine through.
For added charm, kids can paint the cans with vibrant colors or decorate them with washi tape.
Place a small candle or LED light inside, and the lanterns will cast a warm, decorative glow, creating a magical ambiance for patios, gardens, or indoor spaces.
This craft not only repurposes materials but also teaches children about light and shadow, fostering both creativity and environmental consciousness.
Click here for the tutorial.
14. Friendship Bracelets
Friendship bracelets are a classic and heartfelt summer craft that allows children to create personalized tokens of friendship using colorful threads.
By weaving together strands of embroidery floss in various patterns such as chevron, spiral, or diamond, kids can design intricate bracelets that reflect their creativity and style.
This activity not only hones fine motor skills and teaches patience and concentration but also fosters a sense of connection and camaraderie as children make bracelets to exchange with friends.
With endless color combinations and patterns to explore, each bracelet becomes a unique symbol of friendship, embodying the time, effort, and care put into its creation.
Making friendship bracelets is a fun and meaningful way for kids to express their individuality and build lasting bonds during the summer.
Click here for friendship bracelet patterns.
15. DIY Wind Chimes
Creating wind chimes is a charming and interactive summer craft that combines the beauty of nature with the joy of music.
To start, children can gather materials such as seashells, beads, small metal objects like washers or keys, and driftwood or sticks to serve as the main support.
Using a drill or a nail, carefully make small holes in the shells and other items, ensuring they are large enough to thread string or fishing line through.
Next, cut different lengths of string and tie knots to secure the beads and shells in place, creating varied layers and textures.
Once all the elements are prepared, tie the strings to the driftwood or stick, spacing them evenly for a balanced appearance.
When the wind blows, the chimes will create a soothing, melodic sound as the different materials gently collide.
This craft not only encourages creativity and fine motor skills but also provides an opportunity to explore sounds and rhythms.
The finished wind chimes can be hung on porches, in gardens, or near windows, adding a personalized touch of whimsy and tranquility to outdoor spaces.
Click here for DIY wind chime ideas.
16. DIY Suncatchers
Making suncatchers is a delightful summer craft that brightens any window with vibrant colors and patterns.
To begin, children can cut shapes from clear contact paper, such as circles, hearts, or animals, providing a sticky canvas for their designs.
Next, they can tear or cut pieces of tissue paper in a variety of colors, which will serve as the translucent elements of the suncatcher.
By sticking the tissue paper pieces onto the contact paper, kids can create beautiful, mosaic-like patterns that catch and filter sunlight.
For added creativity, they can incorporate other materials like glitter, sequins, or pressed flowers.
Once the design is complete, a second piece of contact paper is placed on top to seal the artwork.
The finished suncatcher can be trimmed to the desired shape and size, and a small hole can be punched at the top for hanging.
When hung in a sunny window, these colorful creations transform sunlight into a dazzling display, filling the room with cheerful hues.
This activity not only stimulates artistic expression and fine motor skills but also brings the joy of handmade beauty into everyday life.
Click to read the DIY suncatchers above.
17. Clay Pottery
Creating clay pottery with air-dry clay is a rewarding and tactile summer craft that allows children to explore their creativity and develop their sculpting skills.
Starting with a block of air-dry clay, kids can mold and shape the material into small pots, figures, or any imaginative designs they envision.
They can use basic tools such as wooden sticks, plastic knives, or even household items like forks and toothpicks to carve details and add texture to their creations.
The flexibility of air-dry clay makes it easy to work with, and because it doesn’t require baking, it’s a convenient option for home crafting.
Children can experiment with techniques like coiling, where they roll the clay into long snakes and coil them to build up the walls of a pot, or pinching, where they start with a ball of clay and pinch it into the desired shape.
Once the sculpting is complete, the clay pieces need to be left to dry, typically for 24-48 hours, until they are hard and ready for decorating.
Painting the dried pieces with acrylic paints adds a vibrant finishing touch, and for a glossy effect, a clear sealant can be applied.
This craft not only nurtures creativity and fine motor skills but also instills a sense of accomplishment as children create lasting, functional, or decorative pieces from scratch.
Each clay creation becomes a unique keepsake, reflecting the child’s artistic journey and providing a tangible reminder of their summer creativity.
Click to read all about clay crafts for kids.
18. Seashell Painting
Seashell painting is a delightful summer craft that combines the joy of beachcombing with the creativity of art.
Begin by collecting a variety of seashells during a beach outing, choosing those with smooth surfaces ideal for painting.
Once cleaned and dried, these natural canvases can be transformed with acrylic paints, allowing children to experiment with vibrant colors and intricate designs.
They can paint patterns, create miniature seascapes, or even turn the shells into whimsical characters.
This activity not only enhances fine motor skills and artistic expression but also fosters a deeper appreciation for nature’s treasures.
The finished painted seashells can be used as decorative pieces, incorporated into jewelry, or given as unique, handmade gifts.
Whether used to brighten a garden, accent a room, or serve as a memento of a beach adventure, each painted seashell becomes a cherished artifact of summer creativity.
Click here to view the sea shell craft ideas in the image above.
19. Paper Bag Puppets
Creating paper bag puppets is an engaging and imaginative summer craft that transforms simple materials into lively characters for storytelling and play.
Start with basic paper lunch bags, which serve as the puppet’s body and head. Children can use markers to draw faces, adding expressive features such as smiles, noses, and whiskers.
To give the puppets more personality, glue on googly eyes that move, adding a playful and dynamic element.
Yarn can be used to create hair, beards, or manes, attached to the bag with glue.
For additional details, children can use construction paper to cut out and glue on ears, hats, or clothing, customizing their puppets to resemble animals, people, or fantastical creatures.
This craft not only encourages creativity and fine motor skills but also promotes storytelling and dramatic play.
Once the puppets are complete, children can put on puppet shows, inventing stories and dialogue, which fosters language development and social skills. Paper bag puppets are a fun and simple way to inspire endless hours of creative play and imaginative adventures.
Click here to check out the paper bag puppet ideas.
20. Bottle Cap Magnets
Bottle cap magnets are a fun and eco-friendly summer craft that turns discarded bottle caps into charming fridge decorations.
Start by collecting various bottle caps and thoroughly cleaning them.
Children can then unleash their creativity by decorating the inside or outside of the caps using acrylic paints, markers, glitter, or small stickers.
They can design colorful patterns, tiny pictures, or even glue on small beads and sequins for added texture and sparkle.
Once the decorations are complete and the paint is dry, attach small round magnets to the back of each bottle cap using a strong adhesive like hot glue or super glue.
These personalized magnets not only brighten up the refrigerator but also make thoughtful handmade gifts.
This craft promotes recycling, creativity, and fine motor skills, providing a delightful and practical use for otherwise discarded materials.
Click to view the tutorial above.
21. Leaf Rubbings
Leaf rubbings are a simple yet enchanting summer craft that allows children to explore the intricate beauty of nature while creating unique artwork.
Begin by collecting a variety of leaves from different plants and trees, ensuring they have interesting shapes and vein patterns.
Once the leaves are gathered, place a sheet of thin paper, such as newsprint or lightweight drawing paper, over one of the leaves.
Using the side of a crayon, gently rub over the paper-covered leaf.
As the crayon moves across the surface, the texture and details of the leaf underneath will emerge, creating a beautiful impression of the leaf’s shape and veins.
This process can be repeated with different leaves and colors to create a vibrant collage of leaf patterns on a single sheet of paper.
Leaf rubbings not only help children develop fine motor skills and an appreciation for the natural world but also serve as a wonderful introduction to the concepts of texture and pattern in art.
This activity can spark interest in botany and the diversity of plant life, making it both educational and creatively fulfilling.
Click to read the tutorial above.
22. Origami Animals
Origami animals are a fascinating and educational summer craft that introduces children to the ancient art of paper folding while sparking their creativity and fine motor skills.
Using colorful origami paper, which is thin and easy to fold, children can learn to create a variety of animals such as cranes, frogs, butterflies, and cats.
Each animal requires a different set of folds and techniques, providing a progressive challenge that enhances spatial awareness and concentration.
Detailed instructions or online tutorials can guide children through the steps, helping them understand the importance of precision and patience in achieving the desired results.
As they fold, kids can experiment with different paper colors and patterns, personalizing their origami creations.
Once completed, these paper animals can be used to create playful scenes, decorate rooms, or even serve as thoughtful handmade gifts.
The practice of origami not only fosters a sense of accomplishment and creativity but also introduces children to cultural traditions, mathematics, and geometry, making it a richly rewarding activity that combines art with learning.
Click here to read more about origami animal tutorials.
23. Miniature Gardens
Creating miniature gardens, such as fairy or dinosaur gardens, is a delightful summer craft that combines gardening with imaginative play, providing children with a hands-on experience in both horticulture and storytelling.
Start by selecting a suitable container, such as a shallow pot, tray, or even a repurposed wooden box, and fill it with soil.
Children can then plant small, easy-to-care-for plants like succulents, moss, or tiny ferns, which add a lush, natural backdrop to their miniature world.
Next, they can arrange tiny figurines—fairy houses, miniature furniture, dinosaurs, or fairy statues—within the garden, creating enchanting or prehistoric scenes.
Additional elements like pebbles, colored sand, miniature fences, and tiny paths can be added to enhance the landscape.
This activity not only fosters creativity and fine motor skills as kids design and build their miniature gardens, but also teaches them about plant care and the basics of gardening.
The result is a magical, living landscape that children can tend to and enjoy, sparking their imagination and nurturing a lifelong love of nature.
Check out this article all about Fairy gardens.
In the End
Summer crafts offer a fantastic way to keep children engaged, creative, and learning during the long, sunny days.
From painting seashells and creating miniature gardens to making origami animals and designing their own wind chimes, these activities provide a perfect blend of fun and education.
They not only foster fine motor skills, creativity, and problem-solving abilities but also encourage an appreciation for nature and the environment.
These crafts offer wonderful opportunities for family bonding and the creation of lasting memories.
By exploring a variety of crafts, children can develop new skills, express their individuality, and enjoy a fulfilling and imaginative summer.
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